Miniature rose plant named `Meiprovan`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the Miniature Class is provided which abundantly forms attractive small double flowers which are pink in coloration. The plant is erect and exhibits a compact and regular growth habit. The blossoms possess no fragrance. The plant propagates well from cuttings. The plant can be grown as attractive ornamentation in the landscape or as a decorative pot plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Miniature rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the product of the pollination of the `Meipiess` variety(non-patented in the United States) and the `Ruimichor` variety(non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollenparent) of the new variety was the product of the pollination of the`Lavender Jewel` variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,480) and the `Pitica`variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,017). The parentage of the new varietycan be summarized as follows:

    (`Meipiess`×`Ruimichor`)×(`Lavender Jewel`×`Pitica`).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Miniature rose plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) forms in abundance attractive small double flowers which exhibit astable pink coloration,

(b) exhibits an erect, compact, and regular growth habit,

(c) propagates well from cuttings, and

(d) is particularly suited for growing as an ornamental pot plant.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itis particularly well-suited for use as attractive ornamentation in thelandscape or for growing as a decorative pot plant.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned methods as performed in France hasshown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictlytransmissble from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the `Meiprovan` variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were one year of age and were observed during Aprilwhile growing on their own roots indoors at LeCannet des Maures, Var,France.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates specimens of floral buds before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates specimens of two floral buds at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4 illustrates specimens of two floral buds at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 illustrates specimens of two flowers during the course ofopening;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 illustrates specimens of leaves with three leaflets with theupper surface being shown at the top and the under surface being shownat the bottom;

FIG. 15 illustrates specimens of leaves with five leaflets with theupper surface being shown at the top and the under surface being shownat the bottom; and

FIG. 16 illustrates specimens of leaves with seven leaflets with theupper surface being shown at the bottom and the under surface beingshown at the top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology whichprecedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate thecorresponding colors in more common terms. The description is based onone year-old specimens of the new variety which were observed duringApril while growing on their own roots indoors at LeCannet des Maures,Var, France.

Class: Miniature.

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 30 cm. on average at the end of the growingseason.

Habit.--Erect.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: near lettuce green, yellow-green group 144A. Adultwood: medium green, yellow-green group 147A.

Thorns.--Size: small. Quantity: moderately numerous. Color: greenish.

Leaves:

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped, reddish on young foliage and mediumgreen on mature foliage with more or less glandular edges. Undersurface: light green and bear some small thorns.

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, rather narrow and linear.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often). Shape: elliptic. Texture:consistent. General appearance: dense, medium green, and semi-glossyfoliage. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: lettuce green,yellow-green group 144A and lightly suffused with reddish-browncoloration. Under surface: light lettuce green, yellow-green group 144A.Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: dark green, yellow-green group147A. Under surface: near greyed-green group 191A.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Multiflorous, and commonly with approximately 2 to 5flowers per stem.

Peduncle.--Medium green in coloration, smooth, and the length isapproximately 4 cm. on average.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose, generally lanceolate inconfiguration, commonly possess a few small extensions (as illustrated),and greenish in coloration. Under surface: medium green,

Buds.--Shape: ovoid. Length: approximately 1.5 cm. on average. Size:small. Color upon opening: Upper surface: near claret rose, red group50A. Under surface: near red group 58D.

Flower.--Form: cup-shaped Diameter: approximately 5 cm. on average.Color (when opening begins): Upper surface: near red group 52C. Undersurface: near Red Group 52D with darkening at the edge to red group 52C.Color (when blooming): Upper surface: near red group 52C. Under surface:near red group 52D. with darkening at the edge to red group 52C. Color(at end of blooming): upper surface: near rose bengal, red group 61D.under surface: near phlox pink, red-purple group 62B. Fragrance: none.Petal number: approximately 50 on average. Petal shape: reflexed edgesand obtuse base. Lasting quality: good, blossoms commonly lastapproximately 18 to 21 days on the plant when grown indoors. Petal drop:good. Anthers: normal and ochre in coloration. Stamen number:approximately 10 on average. Filaments: normal and yellowish incoloration. Pistil number: approximately 15 on average. Stigmas:greenish in coloration. Styles: greenish in coloration. Receptacle:medium green, smooth, and in longitudinal section in the shape of apitcher.

Development:

Vegetation.--Strong.

Blooming.--Very abundant.

Resistance to diseases.--Good, particularly with respect tocylindrocladium (crown canker), black spot, powdery mildew, and downymildew (black mildew).

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Miniature rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsin abundance attractive small double flowers which exhibit a stable pinkcoloration, (b) exhibits an erect, compact, and regular growth habit,(c) propagates well from cuttings, and (d) is particularly suited forgrowing as an ornamental pot plant;substantially as herein shown anddescribed.